The IDF on Friday morning released the names of two soldiers who fell in battle in Rafah’s al-Jeninah in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Sergeant Yishai Elyakim Urbach, 20, from Zichron Ya’acov, was a soldier in the IDF’s 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
Staff-Sergeant Yam Frid, 21, from Sal’it, was a soldier in the IDF’s Golani Reconnaissance Battalion.
Three other soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion were injured during the two events, one severely injured in the incident that killed Urbach, and two others injured in the incident that killed Frid, the military confirmed.
Two other soldiers in the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion were also injured in the incident that killed Frid, according to Walla.
Orbach was killed during a search for a Hamas terror tunnel inside a building, and Frid was killed two hours later when their armored vehicle was hit by an explosive device, Walla added. Orbach was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to a report by Ynet.
The three injured soldiers were evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, and their families were notified of their status, the military added.
Mourning the fallen soldiers
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted, stating that “my wife and I mourn along with all the citizens of Israel.”
The soldiers “fell defending the country in the war for our existence,” and that “their heroism and courage will be etched in our hearts forever,” he added.
רה”מ נתניהו:יחד עם כל אזרחי ישראל, רעייתי ואני אבלים עם משפחותיהם של סמל ישי אליקים אורבך וסמ״ר ים פריד ז”ל, שנפלו בלחימה בעזה.לב כולנו עם המשפחות היקרות שאיבדו את היקר להן מכל.אליקים וים נפלו על הגנת המדינה במלחמה על קיומנו. גבורתם ואומץ לבם יחרטו בליבנו לעד.יהי זכרם ברוך.
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) May 9, 2025
Defense Minister Israel Katz also reacted, commenting that he “grieves the loss” of “two of the best sons of this country.”
Katz also sent his “deepest condolences” to the fallen soldiers’ families and sent his best wishes for the recovery of the injured Combat Engineering soldiers.
כואב את נפילתם של סמל ישי אליקים אורבך, לוחם בגדוד ההנדסה 605, וסמ״ר ים פריד, לוחם סיירת גולני, מטובי בניה של הארץ הזאת שנפלו בקרב בדרום רצועת עזה.מבקש לשלוח גם איחולי החלמה ללוחמים שנפצעו במהלך הקרבות.אני שולח תנחומים מעומק הלב למשפחות הנופלים ומחבק אותן בשעתן הקשה.יהי… pic.twitter.com/pyEIcKT1CP
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 9, 2025
The Zichron Ya’acov Local Council commented that Urbach left behind a wife, both parents, and four siblings. Ynet reported that Urbach and his wife were newlyweds, having married only two months ago.
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